Smart idea
To soften a sea of patio paving, the advice from the experts is to make pockets of planting.
Garden designer Joe Swift transfers the notion to decking, so that an expanse of timber is visually broken up with cushions of low-growing groundcover such as Alchemilla mollis or Euphorbia robbiae. “I also like to introduce square or rectangular cut-outs in the decking
for planting a tree or shrub, to make a design feature,” says Swift.
Swift, who is a huge fan of decking, lists a few plus points. “It’s good value, quick and clean to install and is a quieter, warmer surface than brick or stone.
“I use it in family gardens as it makes a far more practical surface for children to play on than a lawn.
“It is free-draining so surface water runs through and straight back into the water table: important in these times of drought,” he adds.
Swift’s design company, Modular Gardens, builds bespoke gardens at fixed prices, starting at £6,000 plus VAT. For more information call 020 7619 0100, or visit www.modulargarden.com.
